Independent-vote mechanism for voting-machines.



PATENTED SEPT. 29 1903. ST. LOUIS 6; A. M. JACKSON. INDEPENDENT VO'I'EMECHANISM FOR VOTING MAGHINES.

APPLICATION FILED HAIL-19,1903

HO MODEL.

WITNESSES.

ATTO NE UNITED STATES Patented September 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE. I

FRANCIS X. ST. LOUIS AND ALFRED M. JACKSON, OF COLUSA, CALIFORNIA.

INDEPENDENT-VOTE MECHANISM FOR VOTING-MACHINES.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 740,057, datedSeptember 29, 1903. Original application filed October 24, 1902, SerialNo. 128,675. Divided and this application filedMarch 19, 1903. Serial Toan 1072,0771, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANCIS X. ST. LoUIs and ALEEED M.JAcKsoN,citizensof the United States, residing at Colusa, in the county of Colusa andState of Galifo'rnia,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Independent-Vote Mechanism for Voting-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in independent-vote mechanism forvoting-machines, the object of our invention being to provide apparatuswhich will permit the voter to vote for any person whose name does notappear among the list of nominated candidates. 7

Our invention is especially adapted for use with a voting-machineinvented by us, the general construction of which is described andclaimed in an application filed October 24,1902, Ser al No. 128,675, andof which the present application is a division.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section of theupper part ofv a machine embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a brokenplan view of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the voting-keys attached tostems 2. On said stems are slidably keyed arms 3, which engage pins 4 onarms 5 of shutters 6, said shutters covering apertures 7, through whichappear the names of unnominated candidates. The effect, therefore, ofturning the key in one direction will be to withdraw the shutters fromthe apertures, so as to permit the voter to write upon a band 15, of thepaper, the name of the person for whom he desires to vote. Upon eachstem 2 is secured a finger S, which before voting extends in thelongitudinal direction of the machine. The act of voting consists inraising said stem by its key to give the stem a quarter-turn, either tothe right or to the left, and then releasing said stem. This act willbring said finger 8 into the upper portion of a slot 9 in the slide 10.There are two of these slides, one on each side of the row ofvoting-keys. One of the slides as, for instance, that to theleft-corresponds to the nominated candidates, and the other slide, theone to the right, is for voting for persons not nominated. When the Nomodel.)

slides are reciprocated, the effect will be that such fingersas havebeen dropped by the act of voting into the upper, ends of the slots willbe depressed on account of the upper portion of the slot being obliquein direction. Said fingers are sufficiently long to extend through saidslots and over pinsll, extending from the sides of rollers 12 13, sothat the depression of the finger by its engagement with the pin impartsa partial rotation to the roller. The rollers 12 onth'e left carry tapesor bands 14, having numerals printed thereon for'recording the number ofvotes; but around the rollers 13 on the right pass the bands 15 of paperon which the voter may write the name of the person not nominated forwhom he desires to vote, and the effect of depressing the finger in thiscase will be to advance the band of paper a suflicient dis tance tobring a clean surface below the aperture 7 for the next voter to vote bymeans therefore, if desired. The return movement of the slides operatesthe fingers to restore the parts to their former position.

We claiml. A Voting-machine comprising a. row of voting-stems, fingersthereon, a slide having slots oblique in one portion and horizontal inthe other portion, a tape or band for each stem, a roller carrying thesame, pins on said roller, the finger on the stem when moved into theslot engaging said pin, and means for shifting the slide, the slot beingso shaped that when shifted the finger operates the roller to advancesaid tape or band, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a' row ofvoting-stems, the tape for each of said stems, rotatable meanssupporting the tape, means actuated by the stems for moving saidrotatable means to permit movement of the tape, comprising pins carriedby said rotatable means, and means carried by the said stem forengagement with the pins, and shutters for concealing said ICO tapeadapted to be actuated by the stems, substantially as described.

3. A voting-machine of the type set forth, comprising voting-stems,tape-bearing rollers for each stern, a tape carried by said rollers,shutters for concealing the tape, means carried by the stem foractuating said shutters, slides having angular slots therein, and meanscarried by the stems for actuating said slides, substantially asdescribed.

4. A voting-machinecomprising a row of Voting-stems, fingers thereon, aslide having slots oblique in one portion and horizontal in the otherportion, a tape or band for each stem, a roller carrying the same, pinsin said roller, the finger on the stem when inoved F. X. ST. LOUIS. A.M. JACKSON. Witnesses:

FRANCIS M. WRIGHT, BESSIE-GORFINKEL

